Tension frame



Sept. 20, 1932. w. F. HORSTING TENSION FRAME Filed Aug. 16, 1930 I N VEN TOR By WILLIAM F, HORS /1w;

5%... Z1" Lmnd- I ATTORNEYS hide in the production of Patented Sept. 20, 1932 sari-so stares WILLIAM F. HORSTING, 0F WILMET'IE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO LEATHER EQUTIE'MENT COMPANY, INC., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE mansion FRAME Application filed. August 16, 1930. Serial no. 475,753.

providing the outer surface of the hide with a smooth and even finish when treating the the so-called patent leather. I

In carrying out the object of my invention,

I provide a largeopening or cut-away. portion in the plate over which the hide is stretched when toggled to the plate, sothat when the hide is pressed inward by the operator when rubbing the hide in pumicing, as

.well as coating it with enamel, no portion ofthe plate will be in the way to prevent a smooth and even finish being given to the hide.

In the accompanying drawingf- Fig. 1 shows a tensioning frame forhide stretching and drying embodying the feature of my invention; and c Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the/frame of Fig. 1. r I I In the drawing, 1 indicates the plate to which the hide is toggled for stretching and drying. The plate is supported within a surrounding frame 2 through the medium of a number of clips 3, 3, which are preferably in the form of straps bentabout the frame and riveted or bolted to the plate at the margins thereof as shown.

The plate is foraminated by being provided witha multiplicity of apertures or openings 4 to receive the lugs 5 on the under sides of toggles 6 by which the hide 7 is attached to t the plate. I

The toggles have upper and lower jaws between which'the margin of the hide is clamped. The lower jaw is movable through the medium of a thumb piece at the rear end of the toggle, and when the hide is clamped in the jaws, and thetoggle hooked in the plate, the hide issupported above and out ofv contact with the plate, so that air may circulate between the plate and the hide for drying the under side thereof as indicated in Fig. 2, Each toggle has a loop sha fi g r piece at its rear end, whereby the operator may handle the toggle, and pull it outward over the plate when stretching and applying a hide thereto. Y

In accordance with my invention, the plate 1 is provided with a large central opening 8 over which the hide extends, and which opening removes, from the under side of the hide any portion of the plate to interfere with the hide when it is pressed inward toward the plate duringthe preparingof the outer surface of the hide as in the making of patent leather. The operator in pressing against the hide when rubbing it, both when pumicing and applying the enamel coating, will naturally flex the hide inward toward the plate and with the opening 8 beneath the plate in the manner shown, the hide will not contact withthe plate. The hide is relatively thin and if'the plate was continuous under the hide, the perforations in such portion of the plate would allow the hide on contact with the plate to be depressed into the perforations, and thereby produce an uneven surface on the outside of the hide, which surface when rubbed bythe operator would not receive a continuous and smooth finish as required n the. maklng of patent leather.

Thus with my invention the plate does not interfere with the rubbing of the hide and the prop-er finish may be obtained.

1 claim as-my'invention: 1. A device for stretching and drying hides comprising a foraminated plate to which the side of a hide may be toggled, said plate having a large opening therein, the foraminations along the border of said opening being employed for toggling the hide whereby sub st'antially the whole hide is superposed above the opening and both sides of the hide are accessible for operations involved in treating the hide.

2. A device for treating hides comprising a plate having a plurality of perforations therein, a large opening in the plate surroun d-. ed on all sides by a border containing said perforations, said perforations being .arranged'so. that a hide may be toggled on the frame with substantially the whole of the] hide superposed over the opening, both sides of the hide being accessible for operations involved in finishing the hide, the hide being positioned above the plate, so that it may be pressed Within the opening Without contacting With the plate.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM F. HORSTING. 

